Safety razor combined with blade conditioning means



May 17, 1949. G. THoRNFlELD SAFETY RAZOR COMBINED WITH BLADE CONDITIONING MEANS Filed Dec. 9, 1945 3 sheets-sheet 1 il W j 6", /9'

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May 17, 1949. G. THoRNr-'IELD 2,470,588

SAFETY RAZOR COMBINED WITH BLADE -COND'F.lK-)NING MEANS Filed Deo. 9, 1943 K 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 C #Hill .bye/Q//l GODFREY THORN Fl ELU.

SAFETY RAZOR COMBINED WITH BLADE CONDITIONING MEANS Patented May 17, 1949 SAFETY RAZOR COMBINED WITH BLADE CONDITIONING .MEANS Godfrey Thornfield, London, England Application December 9, 1943, Serial No. 513,537 In Great Britain November 27, 1942 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires November 27, 1962 (C1. Sil-34) 15 Claims.

This invention relates to safety razors and has for its object the provision of improved means whereby, without using the usual stropping or sharpening devices, the blade of a safety razor may be maintained in good condition for a long period of use.

The Vinvention comprises the incorporation of a stropping or a sharpening surface in the Structure of the safety razor itself.

'In order that the invention may be the more clearly understood, a number of constructions in accordance therewith as applied to razors of the Gillette type will now be described, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevation, shown mainly in section, of one of said constructions, with the parts in the condition for stropping the blade;

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a plan of the base member of the razor;

Figure 5 is a plan of the blade;

Figure 6 is an under plan of the clamping member of the razor;

Figure 7 is a sectional side elevation of another construction, with the parts in the condition for strapping;

Figure 8 is a section on line 8 8 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a central section looking from the left vof Figure 1 but with the parts in the clamped condi-tion for shaving.

Figure 10 is a plan of the same shown in section through the handle;

Figure 11 is an under plan of the clamping member of the razor;

Figure 12 is a side elevation shown mainly in Section of another construction, with the parts in the condition for stropping;

Figure 13 is a side elevation looking from the left to Figure 12 and shown in section on line l3-l 3 of Figure 12;

Figure 14 is a similar view to Figure 13 but with the parts in the clamped condition for shaving;

Figure 15 is a plan of Figure 12 shown in section vthrough the handle;

Figure 16 is a section on line 16-16 of Figure 15.

Describing first the construction' shown in Figures 1 to 6, this construction is a razor of the Gillette type comprising in the usual way a .base member l whose under surface is adapted to engage the skin being shaved and against whose upper surface, with its two edges pro- 2 jecting, the blade 2 `is adapted to be clamped by means of a clamping member 3 whose edges project beyond the edges of the blade. Thus, in shaving, the cheek is, in the usual way, engaged by the under surface of the base member l, and

also by the narrow edge portions of the blade 2, which project beyond the edges of said'base member, and the two marginal portions of the clamping member 3, which project beyond the edges of the blade. In the vusual -way Ythe upper surface of the base member l is concave and the lower surface `of the clamping member 3 is convex so that the blade is exed to curved form when the clamping member is pressed down. In Figures 1 and 2 the clamping member 3 is shown not pressed down and the blade 2 is accordingly straight as will hereinafter appear. In the usual way locating lugs 4 on the upper surface of the base member I engage in openings 5 in the blade 2 and also in recesses 6 in the undersurface of the clamping member 3 when the `latter is clamped down.

In the present arrangement the under surface of the clamping member 3 carries a pad 1 of chamois leather or the like impregnated with petroleum jelly or the like, and th-e base member I carries on its upper side a nat spring vplate 8 whose upper surface also has mounted thereon a pad 9 of chamois leather or the like impregnated with petroleum jelly or the like. When the clamping member 3 is at the down or clamping position (not shown) this plate 8 together with the pad 9 is flexed with the blade, but when the clamping member is at the position shown in Figures 1 and 2, said plate 8 and pad 9 straighten out as shown and the pad maintains contact with the blade which also straightens. When the blade 2 is at the straight position shown in Figures 1 and 2 it is clear of the locating lugs 4, and, in the present arrangement means are Iprovided whereby the clamping member 3 can -be lifted to the position shown in Figures 1 and 2 and whereby the blade 2 can then be rotated to and fro about its centre. When this is done the two surfaces of the blade are respectively rubbed against the two pads 1 and 9 andthe blade is accordingly stropped and the petroleum jelly will be transferred to the blade for repelling the water from the blade surface. After shaving therefore, all that is rnecessary to do to prevent rusting of the blade is to lift the clamping member 3 to the position shown and oscillate the blade 2 as stated after which the clamping member can be again clamped down andthe razor put away ready for its next use.

Describing now the mechanism by which this clamping member 3 can be lowered and raised and by which the blade 2 can be oscillated when said clamping member is raised, the base member I has a central screwed stud I projecting upwardly from it on which the plate 8, pad 9, blade 2 and clamping member 3 are impaled, and the handle II screws on this stud for keeping the parts assembled. Said handle II has a sleeve I2 rotatably located on its bottom portion as shown and this sleeve I2 has rigidly mounted on its bottom end a disc I3 which is adapted to fit freely in a recess in the upper surface of the clamping member 3. The sleeve I2, at its upper end, abuts against a milled nut I4 which is in screwed relation on the handle II. With the handle II screwed fully down on to the stud Ill, if the nut I4 is screwed down towards the lower limit of its travel on the handle II, the bottom end of the sleeve I2 and the disc I3 will press the clamping member 3 to the down or shaving position and if said nut I4 is screwed up towards its upper limit as shown, the bottom of the sleeve I2 and the disc I3 will permit the blade 2 and plate and pad 8 and 9 to straighten to the position shown in Figures 1 and 2.

For oscillating the blade 2 when the parts are at this position shown, a pin I5 is provided mounted on, and depending downwardly from, the disc I3. This pin passes through an arcuate slot I6 in the clamping member 3 and through one of the slots 5 of the blade 2 as shown, near the inner end and clear of the adjacent lug 4. The arcuate slot I6 is concentric with the stud I0 and extends through 180. clamping member 3 is at the up position shown, the sleeve I2 (which is milled) and therefore the disc I3 and pin I5 can be oscillated through 180 about the axis of the handle II and this oscillates the blade 2 through the same angle.

The spring 8 with its pad 9, and also the clamping member 3 are prevented from rotating with the blade 2 by virtue of the fact that the lower portion I'I of the stud I0 is of square section and engages in square holes I8 and I9 in the plate 8 and pad 9 and the clamping member 3. The central hole of the blade is suiciently large to rotate around the square portion of the pin.

Ordinarily therefore the handle I I is kept fully down on the stud I0. When the razor is to be used the nut I4 is screwed down until the clamp ing member 3 clamps the blade at the correct setting and when the blade is to be stropped the nut I4 is screwed upwards to the right position and the sleeve I 2 is oscillated thereby drying and stropping the blade as stated, The nut I4 is then screwed down again ready for the next shave and the razor is put away. rhe handle II only has to be unscrewed when the razor is to be disassembled say for renewing the blade.

It will be noted that the arcuate slot IB is so located that the blade is oscillated on either side of a mid position at right angles to the base member and clamping member.

Describing now the construction shown in Figures 7 to 11, this construction as in the preceding construction comprises a base member I, a blade 2, a clamping member 3', and studs 4 on the upper surface of the base member engaging in openings 5 in the blade and in recesses 6 in the clamping member.

Also, as in said preceding construction, the base member I has the usual central screwed stud I0 on which the blade 2 and clamping member 3' are impaled and the handle I I' screws Thus, when the 4 on to this stud for keeping the parts assembled. It will be seen that the lower end of the handle II in this case passes through the member 3' and blade 2 and rests ush against the base member I.

The clamping member 3 also has a pad 'I (shown in two parts) on its under surface, but the plate 8 and pad Il of the preceding construction are dispensed with. When the razor is to be dried and stropped, the clamping member 3 is raised from the clamping position shown in Figure 9 to the position shown in Figure 8 at which the blade 2 is straight, and, the blade 2 remaining stationary, said clamping member 3 is turned through a right angle about the axis of the stud I0', and, holding the ends of the base member and blade between the thumb and finger of say the left hand, and the ends of the clamping member 3 between the thumb and nger of the right hand, said clamping member is oscillated about the axis of the handle with its under surface presse-d against the surface of the blade. The arrangement for locating the blade during this operation may be either as shown in the left hand part of Figure 7, or as shown in the right hand part of Figure '7. According to the left hand part the locating studs l are just high enough to locate the blade while not projecting substantially above its surface. According to the right hand part of the gure additional studs 2I are provided engaging holes near the centre of the blade, and the clamping member is formed with an annular recess 22 which leaves it free to rotate clear of said studs 2I.

When one side of the blade is stropped and dried the razor is disassembled and then reassembled with the blade reversed, and the other side of the blade is then stropped and dried. The clamping member 3 is then clamped down to the position of Figure 9 and the razor is ready for the next shave.

In the present construction, the means for permitting the clamping member 3 to rise to the position of Figure 8 for stropping consist of a collar 23 in screwed relation on the handle II and bearing at its lower end in a recess in the upper surface of `the clamping member 3. With the handle II screwed fully down as shown, the clamping member 3 will be either at the clamping position of Figure 9 or at the up position of Figure 8 according to whether the collar 23 is screwed down or up. For disassembling the razor the handle II', with the collar 23 on it, is of course completely unscrewed from the stud I 0.

In this construction means are also provided to enable the blade to be sharpened when this becomes necessary after a long period of use. Thus carborundum or other sharpening material 24 is inset flush in the upper surface of the clamping member 3' in longitudinal strips near the side edges thereof. To sharpen the blade the whole razor is disassembled and the blade 2 is laid longitudinally on the upper surface of the clamping member and is longitudinally reciprocated while being pressed gently down by the ngers on said surface. Its edges will lie over the carborundum insets 24 and satisfactory sharpening will be effected.

To make place for the carborundum insets the usual longitudinal slots through the clamping member 3 at the sides thereof are inclined a best shown in Figure 8.

Describing now the construction shown in Figfanzoysss uresllZ-to' 16; thisV construction is somewhatsimi- "lar to'that of Figures i1`tof6, Ibut, instead-of the blade 'beingl capable of oscillation 'through 180 only, it: isr capable ci` being continuously rotated. *Thusthisfconstruction, like that of Figures i1 "w16, 'comprises 'a 'base member l, ua blade 2, adapted to be clamped down on the kbase member "by `a clamping*mem-berA 3' and4 locating 'studs-'4 "onf'the basemernberwhich engage in openingsiB "inthe blade and also inrecesses 6 inthe .under surface of the clamping member when the latter `-is clamped Ldown. Also'- as in-Figures-l to `6 the under-*surface of theclainping member carries a pad 1 "and the "base member carries a spring `8 IandpafdS. Also, as inFigures 1 to 6, means are Lprovided whereby the clamping member 3f can be lifted to `tfheposition shown in Figures 12,213 *an-'d' 116,-but, inthe |present arrangement, when the 'clamping memberfis lifted-tothis position the blade caribe `continuously rotated, instead 'of oscillated for stropping and drying the blade.

y"Describing nowthe mechanism by which'the clamping member3" can be lowered and raised, and-"bywhich the blade? 2 can `be rotated when "said clampingmember is raised, the base member 1 sI has L-acentral screwed stud l" projecting up- -wardlyffrom it on which, as before, the plate B, l'-padi'l, blade 2 and clamping member are impaled, and thehandlefl I"= screws l'on this stud for keepingy theparts assembled. Said handle Il" has a n `4`sleeve f2a surrounding lits bottom Iportion as "shown, vandfthis 'sleeve-is rigidly xed to the clamping member 3" by -means of a bridging piece -`3a. which vis integral with said clamping "member". `fits-over a square section portion 25 ofthe stud just'beneath the screwv threaded portion and vthisprevents rotation of said sleeve, and therefore ofthe clamping member 3", relative to the basemember l. The sleeve 12a, at its upper end, '-abutsagainst a milled nut M in screwed relation on'thehandlev l I, and, as in the caseoi Figures 1 'to gbyscrewing this nut 'up and down the clampingmember israised to the stropping position of fFigures 12, 13 and 16or lowered to the clamping .position of' Figure 14.

"Said clampingmember 3 comprises a circular central portion '3b which is rotatable relative to the main portion 3". .This portion 3b, which is located in an opening in the mainportion 3 and .under vthe bridging. piecefSal as shown, bears on acircular section porti'on`26 of the stud lil,v just beneath the square section portion 25. The .under-surface of this central portion 3b conforms to .the general convex shape of the clamping member as shown, and said central portion has lugs 3c (Figure 12) extending vdown from its .under surface which engage with slots in the blade. When the clamping member is raised to the up. position of Figures 12, 13 and.16, this cen- .tr'alportion (which is formed with a bevelled milled edge as shown) can be rotatedby the .ngers .and .will vthereby rotate the blade 2, and ,thusthe' blade will be dried on both sides as in (thecase of Figures 1 tofG, without' the limitation rthatit can only be Yoscillated through 180.

.In each of the constructions heretofore described, -.a vsmall cylinder-.or plug -21 .of solid petroleum jelly `or the like is contained in the :outer end ofthe bore of the handle I I. 'This plug v.27 is carried 'by aclosing cap 28,*fand by unscrewing thiscap theplug can be removed and; rubbed fonvlthenpads Tand rSithereby re-impregnating them A=when-tlfieyfbegin to dry.

The lower end of the sleeve I2aV What claim and @desire :to :secure by `letters -Patentisz 1. Af safety 'razorf'of the .Gillette type 'compris- 4ing a basel element, :a blade, y.and .aclampingfelement byfwhich the blade is clamped down on lthebase element,V said clamping element having .disposed .1on1 its under side a vrelatively soft, po- Iir-ous.. mem-ber impregnated `with grease-fliketwater repel'lant 'for transferringsaidrwater repellant to the razorblafde.

'.2. fA `ysafetysrazor ofthe .Gillette type comprisfing :a .base element, a blade, and :aclampingtelement by 'which .the blade :is clamped down :on the'ibase element, #said *clamping element `having disposedfon its Vunder side a relatively soft,;po "reus .member impregnated with grease-likenwater repellan-t for transferring'` said `water` repellant'tofthe razor `'blade and saidbase element carrying :'-on the upper side thereof a 'relatively vsoftfporous.' member impregnated with'a lgreasevlikewater repellant.

3. A safety razor according Ato claim 2 comprising means for lifltingtheclamping Velement from .the clamping position tofav llimitingy .position at Vwhich thezblade is straight `and held lightly `between the two members'carrying '.argrease-like Iwaterl repellan't,.' and -means'florirotating the blade #when thus l"held :thereby simultaneously applying -water re'pellant` material lto :both surfacesH of said blade.

All. Asa-fety razor of the"` Gillette type comprisringiaflbase el'enuentna blade,..a clamping element iby-'Lwhichl the'blade is clamped clown `on `the `base v`'element-1a 'spring plate mounted on 'top of :the Vvbase plate, said' clamping elementfhaving the .tm- 'derside thereof andi said spring plateon the up- 'per side thereofv a "surfaceadapted torcondition -`saidrazorblade, said spring plate and 'said blade 'straightenin'g'together upon release of pressure.

Y5.Ir1ea, safety' razon of `the Gillette type comprising l avbase element, a blade, :and a clamping ^elementlby which `the.' blade is :clamped down `on the Lbase elementgsaid clampingelement having "disposed :onuits under lside a `surface adapted to f condition' the razor blade, a'ndsai'dr 'base' element lhavingfa blader conditioning surfacev onj the' upper side thereof; in combination; :a screw threaded handle, a correspondingly threaded means yon said-baseelement .adapted to cooperate with said handle to keepthe base, the 4blade and the clamping'eelement assembled, aznut on said handle axially adjustable thereto, for advancing said `'clamping element into blade .clamping position viorfor.retracting'it into a position leaving the `bladefreefor'rotation between said conditioning surfaces, sleeve rotatable on said handle, -said sleeve beinginterposed between said nut-:land said-clamping `element, which sleeve holds the clampingfelement down, a-fpin-supported bythe "bottom'end ofsaid sleeve, said V`pin being capable 4"ofengagin-g in a' hole ofsaid'bladeiand of passing through an arcuate slot in said clamping .-felement therebyeflecting rotation of the razor blade 41for'-.condition-ing:the same when the sleeve .is i'ola'td.

6."In: a safety razor of the Gillette type comprising a base element, a blade,llanda clamping ielementby :whichit-h'eblade: is clamped down on thebase element, said clamping element having disposed on itsmnder side a surface ladapted to conditionthe-razor `blade-Tand said.r base element having :a `blade conditioning surface ontheupnperside` thereof, ain. combination; a-screw threaded handleya correspondingly.` threaded 'means on saidfbase Ielementadapted tooperaxtewithf said 7 handle to keep the base, the blade, :and the clamping element assembled, Ia nut on said handle axially adjustable thereto, for advancing said clamping element into blade clamping position or for retracting it into a position leaving the blade free -for rotation between said stropping and drying surfaces, a spacing sleeve between said nut and said clamping element, said sleeve being connected at its lower end to the clamping element and bears with its upper end against said nut whereby said clamping element is held down, a central insert lrotatably received in an opening in said clamping element, said insert having at least one pin or stud extending downwardly rtherefrom for engaging in openings in said blade, whereby rotation of said insert effects rotation of said blade.

'7. A safety razor according to claim 6, wherein the under surface of said yrotatable insert is curved to conform to the shape of the clamping element, whereby said insert forms in effect a part of said clamping element.

8. A safety razor according to claim 6, wherein said clamping element carries a bridging piece, said spacing sleeve being connected at its lower end to said bridging Ipiece and said rotatable insert being located underneath said bridging piece and being exposed at the two sides of said bridging piece, whereby said insert can be rotated bythe fingers.

9. In a safety razor of the Gillette :type comprising a base element, a blade and a clamping element by which .the blade is clamped down on the base element, said clamping element having disposed on its under side a surface adapted to recondition :the razor blade, in combination; a screw threaded handle, a correspondingly threaded means on said bas-e element adapted Ito cooperate with said handle to keep the base, the blade and the clamping element assembled, and means on said handle axially adjustable thereto, for advancing said clam-ping element into blade clamping position or for retracting it into a posi-tion in whi-ch it is free to rotate for blade reconditioning, means for rotating said clamping element when so positioned, and means for holding :the blade against rotation while the clamping element is so rotated.

10. A safety -razor comprising a base member and an upper member between which the blade is adapted to be clamped, a handle screw-connected to said base member, an adjusting element mounted on said handle and serving to hold said upper member down at the clamping position relative to said base member, whereby said blade is pressed to curved form, anda bladeconditioning element mounted on one of said members contiguous to the blade, said adjusting element being axially adjustable relative to said handle to permit said upper member to lift and said blade to spring to its flat state, lwhile said handle is fully screw-connected to said base member, and relative rotation between said blade and said blade-conditioning element being thereafter permissible about the axis lof said handle, whereby said blade is conditioned by said bladeconditioning element.

11. A safety razor comprising a base member and an upper member -between which the blade is adapted to be clamped, a handle screw-connected .to said base member, an adjusting element mounted on said handle and serving to hold said upper member down at the clamping position relative to said base member, whereby said bl-ade is pressed to curved form, and a blade-conditioning element mounted on both of said members contiguous to the blade, said adjusting element being axially adjustable relative to said handle to permit said upper member to lift and said blade to spring to its flat state, while said handle is fully screw-connected to said base member, and relative rotation between said blade and said blade-conditioning element being thereafter permissible about the axis of said handle, whereby said blade is conditioned by said blade-conditioning element.

12. A safety razor comprising a base member with a concave upper surface and an upper member with a convex lower surf-ace, a spring plate mounted on the upper side of said base member, a blade conditioning element mounted on the upper side of said spring plate, a handle adapted to be sc-reW-connected to said base member and thereby to hold said upper member down at the clamping lposition relative to said base member with the blade between said upper member and said blade-conditioning element, whereby said blade and said spring plate are bent t0 curved form conforming to the concave and convex surfaces of said base member and said upper member, means whereby said upper member may be permitted to lift relative to said base member, thereby permitting said blade and said spring plate to spring to their ilat state, Iwhereupon rotation of said blade relative to said base member is permissible about the axis of said handle, whereby said blade is conditioned by said bladeconditioning element.

13. A safety razor comprising a base member with a concave upper surface and an upper member with a convex lower surface, a spring plate mounted on the upper side of said base member, a blade conditioning element mounted on the upper side of said spring plate and another bladeconditioning element mounted on the lower surface of the upper member, a handle adapted to be screw-connected to said base member and thereby to hold said upper member down at the clamping position relative to said base member with the blade between said upper and said lower blade-conditioning elements, whereby said blade and said spring Iplate are bent to curved form conforming to the concave and convex surfaces of said base member and said upper member, means whereby said upper member may be permitted to lift relative fto said base member, thereby permitting said blade and said spring plate to spring to their flat state, whereupon rotation of said blade relative to said base member is permissible about the axis of said handle, whereby said blade is conditioned by said bladeconditioning elements.

14. A safety razor comprising a base member having a curved surface and an upper member having a curved surface complementary Ito the rst mentioned curved surface, a blade-conditioning element mounted on the underside of said upper member, a handle adapted to be screwconnected to said base member and thereby to hold said upper member down at the clamping position relative to said base member, with the blade between said blade-conditioning element and said base member whereby said blade is bent to curved form, and means for lifting said upper member relative to said base member, thereby `permitting said blade to spring to its flat state, and for rotating said upper member about the axis of said handle while the blade remains stationary on said base member, whereby said blade is conditioned by said blade-conditioning element.

15. A safety razor comprising a structure for holding a razor blade for shaving, said structure including a base member and a lclamp member between which the blade is adapted to be held by clamping action; and means 'associated with said structure `for conditioning the blade against rusting While the blade is carried by the structure, said means including two pieces of chamois leather, or the like, impregnated with a Water repellent material, said pieces beiner carried between the confronting faces of the base and clamp members, one of said pieces being disposed on one side of the blade and the other piece being disposed on the opposite side of the blade, said Water repellent material being transferable from 15 Number said pieces to the blade by contact `with the blade.

GODFREY THORNFIE'LD.

10 REFERENCES CITED Number Name Date 1,832,155 Thau Nov. 17, 1931 1,824,779 Isdale ISept. 29, 1931 1,974,175 Coggins Sept. 18, 1934 2,002,682 Wyman May 28, 1935 2,036,722 Savage Apr. 7, 1936 2,283,721 Brockhurst May 19, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date 330,359 Great Britain June 12, 1930 

